Further news and urgent actions from Chiapas Via NY Transfer News Collective * All the News that Doesn't Fit source - solidarity@sjsocial.org June 7, 1999 This message was sent via "solidarity@sjsocial.org". Although the list is maintained by MEXPAZ, neither the operator of the server nor MEXPAZ assume any responsibility for the content of this message. The person responsible for the content is the one who originally sent it to "solidarity" and whose address appears in the headers of this message. MEXPAZ Sent message continues: Dear Friends, The violence in Chiapas is growing. Now groups of the official party (PRI) are able to detain people, accuse them falsely and organize the official arrest of whomsoever they please. Two of our co-workers, indigenous people, Manuel Perez Constantino and Jesus Hernandez Gutierrez have been unjustly imprisoned. In a special way, Manuel is well know for his untiring work in the struggle for peace with dignity in the indigenous communities in the Southwest of Mexico. He has activetly participated for a number of years in the Xi'Nich movement. Because of his work for a peace and justice with dignity, he has suffered attacks and violence for some time now. He has been kidnapped, and accused in the tribunals. He has been charged with attacking communication routes and criminal association. In reality, he, and Jesus, are the victims of the crimes of which they have been accused. They were kidnapped by a group of PRI militants who were blocking the Pinyal Crossroad. For this reason we !! are asking you to help us with the following urgent action. Yours, Francisco Ramos Fomento Cultural y Educativo, AC. Jeronimo Hernandez, who was also detained and imprisoned two years ago and who gained his freedom along with Ramon Parcer, Pancho Gonzalez and Fr. Gonzalo Rosas, thanks to your help, (he was also detained at the same time as Manuel and Jesus but quickly released) speaks: +And what do you think happened to me when they told me? I looked at Manuel, standing there in the middle of the Priistas and suddenly I saw him sitting at my side in the pick-up, and then I saw them pulling him by the hair, hands that were dragging him out and I saw him fall on his side. I saw him pass close by my in the PSP pick-up; I saw him going off into the distace in a cloud of dust. I saw him not looking during all the goings-on in the night, I saw him lose himself on the road to Yajalon. I saw Celia's face this morning, I saw her face swallowing down her tears, I saw that she already new what had happened. I saw her pick herself up again, just as I know how she draws on her inner deepest well of freedom, as only one can do when they deprive one of external freedom. Today it is my turn to be on the outside. At times, I think, why did they let me go? Wouldn't it be better to be inside? My reason tells me that now it is my turn to act from outside and I want to ask you b! ! rothers and sisters, all of you, to act in Manuel's case as if I or anyone of you were the one to be inside. If Manuel is inside, I, too, am inside. If we make declarations and we move things for jXel and for Gonzalo, today, jXel and Gonzalo call ourselves Manuel and Jesus, and we are the same. With one small difference: those who are inside are the real ones and for their sake it is worth while taking on the struggle. Once again, many thanks. I will continue to being a nuisance....; URGENT ACTION The Facts: On the first of June, the two indigenous co-workers, Manuel Perez Constantino and Jesus Hernandez Gutierrez and Fr. Jeronimo Hernandez (aka +jXel;) were detained by a group of members of the Government Party (PRI) at the Pinyal Crossroads, in the municipality of Chilon, Chiapas. Manuel and Jesus were travelling in a bus and were forced to get out at the Crossroads. One hour later, Fr. Jeronimo, who was travelling in his own vehicle, was also detained. This detention was totally illegal and should be rather considered as a kidnapping. In a lynching atmosphere, the were subjected to an interrogation by members of the PRI and, after several hours, representatives of the Public Prosecutor's Office from the Chilon Municipality arrived. Fr. Jeronimo was freed there and then. But the judicial police and the public prosecutor took Manuel and Jesus to Yajalon. During this journey of several hours, Manuel threatened with deat and was mistreated and beaten by the policemen; there is evidence of lesions in his ankle. >From the time of their arrival in Yajalon, they have been helped by the Center for Indigenous Rights (CEDIAC) and by the Human Rights Center +Fray Bartolome de las Casas; (CDHFBC). On the second of June, Manuel and Jesus were taken from Yajalon to San Cristobal de las Casas and placed at the disposition of the Public Prosecutor's Office for Indigenous Affairs. They were not presented with any opportunity to make a statement until the next afternoon. Many obstacles were placed in the path of the lawyers from CEDIAC: they were not allowed to see the corresponding file, their position as legal representatives was not recognized. On the 4th of June, Manuel and Jesus were charged with +attacking communication routes; and +criminal association;. They were taken to jail number 5 in San Cristobal de las Casas. Under the first charge, they may be released on bail, but under the second, no bail is permitted. The lawyers are attempting to get an extension of the period allowed by the constitution to present witness and to show that there is no ground for the charges. The period allowed is 72 hours, they have asked for it to be extended to 144 hours. Now we are trying to find witnesses. We hope that the National Commission for Human Rights, at the petition of the CDHFBC will make some type of intervention during the next 6 days. It looks like that this time is when we most need shows of solidarity from NGO's and others in order to pressure the Prosecutor's Office to drop the charges. Now is the moment when we most need you to respond to this Urgent Action, at the petition of the Human Rights Center, +Fray Bartolome de las Casas;. We ask that: We express our indignation and concern with relation to the facts of this case, as well as with relation to the growing vioence in the State (Chiapas). We express our concern for these arbitrary detentions as well as the physical and verbal abuse. For these reasons, we ask you to make a declaration about these events by sending letters, faxes or making phone calls: 1.That the responsible authorities either provide sufficient reason for the charges against Manuel and Jesus or that they be immediately and unconditionally released. 2.That administrative and/or judicial proceedings be initiated to determine the responsibility of those public servants implicated by this arbitrary detention, mistreatment and abuse and of all other implicated persons. These requests should be directed to the following government authorites: Presidente de la Repzblica Dr. Ernesto Zedillo Ponce de Lesn Palacio de la Repzblica Mixico, D. F. Fax: (52 5) 515 17 94 Secretarma de Gobernacisn Lic. Disdoro Carrasco Altamirano Fax: (52 5) 546 53 50 Procurador General de la Repzblica Dr. Jorge Madrazo Cuellar Av. Reforma, esquina Violeta Mixico, D.F.C.P. 06300 Tel: (52 5) 626 41 47 Fax: (52 5) 627 44 19 Comisisn Nacional de Derechos Humanos Dra. Mireille Rocatti Perifirico Sur 3469001 Col. San Jersnimo, Deleg. Magdalena Contreras Mixico, D. F. C. P. 10200 Fax: (52 5) 681 71 99 Email: correo@cndh.org.mx Gobernador de Chiapas Lic. Roberto Albores Guillin Av.Central y 1* Oriente Tuxtla Gutiirrez, Chiapas. C. P. 29009 Fax: (52 961) 2 09 17 Procurador General de Justicia del Estado de Chiapas Lic. Eduardo Montoya Liivano Libramiento Norte s/n Infonavit El Rosario Tuxtla Gutiirrez, Chiapas Fax: (52 961) 6 57 23 s 6 53 14 Subprocurador de Asuntos Indmgenas Lic. Francisco Demeza Hernandez Av. Cresencio Rosas San Cristsbal de las casas, Chiapas. Tel. y Fax (52 967) 8 53 55 Centro de Derechos Humanos Fray Bartolomi de las Casas Francisco Lesn 5 Barrio de Santa Lucma San Cristsbal de las Casas Chiapas C.P. 29250 Mixico Tel.: (967) 8 35 48 Fax: (967) 8 35 51 Email: cdhbcasas@laneta.apc.org http://www.laneta.apc.org/cdhbcasas/ MEXPAZ ================================================================= NY Transfer News Collective * A Service of Blythe Systems Since 1985 - Information for the Rest of Us 339 Lafayette St., New York, NY 10012 http://www.blythe.org e-mail: nyt@blythe.org ================================================================= nytcamer-06.09.99-21:58:08-28466